*Updated as of January 26, 2018.
“The Greatest Showman,” a movie based on the life of businessman P.T. Barnum, is showing on the big screen soon! Its high-energy musical numbers and jaw-dropping circus stunts are highly anticipated, and it’s set to officially premiere in the Philippines on January 31.
Ready your VISA cards for when the tickets become available on sureseats.com!
Before you catch the movie, here are some things you might not know about the filming and production of “The Greatest Showman.”
1. Zendaya does her own stunts.
For months, Zendaya trained in various aerial-acrobatic acts (mainly trapeze) to prepare for her role as Anne Wheeler, an African-American acrobat performing in Barnum’s Circus.
She posted videos on Instagram of her performing several death-defying stunts without the use of a safety net.
2. Actress Rebecca Ferguson, who plays opera singer Jenny Lind, does not actually sing in the movie.
The Voice contestant Loren Allred provided the singing voice for Rebecca Ferguson’s Character.
Despite having attended the Adolf Fredrik’s Music School in Stockholm, Ferguson lipsynced her lyrics to focus more on acting.
3. The actor playing the young P.T. Barnum doesn’t sing in the movie, either.
Ellis Rubin, who plays the young P.T. Barnum, also lipsynced during his song numbers.
Singer and Actor Ziv Zaifman belts out P.T. and Charity Barnum’s love ballad, “A Million Dreams.”
4. Hugh Jackman turned down a James Bond role to play P.T. Barnum.
Jackman was offered the chance to play Bond but turned down the role to shoot “The Greatest Showman.”
When asked in an interview with Variety why decided this way, he said “People wanted me to play that kind of hero part exclusively. It felt a little bit claustrophobic.”
5. Hugh Jackman risked his health just to sing a song.
A few weeks before the final sing-through in front of Fox executives, Jackman underwent skin surgery and was advised to avoid singing. He went against it and blew open almost 80 stitches while singing “From Now On.”
It worked out in the end, as his dedication got “The Greatest Showman” officially greenlit for production.
6. Many of the costumes worn by the circus cast came from the real Barnum Circus.
Several of the costumes used by the circus cast during the musical numbers were borrowed from Feld Entertainment, the current owners of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
